Electrical help needed for decorative crossing signal.

[n2mopac]

As some of you may have read, my wife is delivering our 3rd child this week. We decorated the nursery in--what else--trains. I build a crossing signal and cross buck out of wood and I want to put red lights on the signal lights, but I'm at a loss as to how to get it done (electrical dummy as I am). The entire signal is 6 feet tall with the light backs being abouot 12 inches in diameter. Replacement tail lights for a car like you can get at Wal Mart are the right size, but I can't figure out how to power them. I would have to have some sort of transformer to plug them into the wall. The kicker here is I don't want to spend a small fortune on this little project. Batteries are not preferred, but are not ruled out either. I would rather have something I could plug into the wall and turn on and off. Any suggestions. Thanks for your input.
Ron

[ndbprr]

A couple of thoughts. Do you want the child to go to sleep or stay awake? Tail lights are 12 volts DC and designed to be seen so they are going to be very bright when they kick on. You may want to use a power pack to regulate the voltage down some to dim them. There are all kinds of electronic switches made using TTL logic and you could find something in Walthers catalog but they might not handle the amperage from an auto taillight so you would need to check that first. You could try a mechanical method with a drum and rub strips turned by a motor. 12 volts DC isn't that great a power source that anybody should get hurt but you would want to box it in somehow. The same power source for the lights could turn a hobby motor and drum.

[Vampire]

Another idea might be to use old style Christmas tree bulbs. They are the size of night light bulbs, run on AC and only use about 5 Watts each. You would only need 2 sockets for them. You might find small pre-wired lamp cord/switch/sockets at a home store or craft store. I think you can still get blinking bulbs too, which would make it all the easier, if you can live with the bulbs not blinking in "perfect" sequence.

Best of luck with the new "railfan"!! [#welcome]

[Eriediamond]

n2mopac, congrats to you and yours on the new arrival due. I'm building just such a signal for our club to use at places we visit and to place outside our door when we are operating. I'm using PC pipe and building a box for the base to hold a heavy duty truck battery. You may want to due it differently though. I'm using the round tail/stop lights as used for trailers and I have a flasher unit like is used for emergency vehicles. I couldn't tell you the cost of the flasher unit as it was given to me by a friend at a body manufacturer that builds fire truck bodies. You might could check the web for suppliers of emergency lighting for vehicals and contact them for availabiltyof such a unit. My battery was also donated. Vampires idea of Christmas blinking lights seems like a good alternate idea and would be the least expensive. Just another thought hit me, you may find a flasher at a sign makers shop. Anyway good luck with it, Ken

[Fergmiester]

I'm thinking SCHOOL BUS

If I'm not mistaken they are twelve volts and their red light stopping system is an alternating one. So you can either try a junk yard or a school bus manufacturer. I'd go for the 110v to 12v step down transformer that is capable of handling heavy amperage. You may want to try "Princess Auto" in Canada, find them on the search engine and they do mail order. They have the most obscure and interesting stuff. They may even have your flasher unit!

Best of luck with your new addition!!!

Regards
Fergie